Rust-proof Baseboards

Standard baseboard covers rust over time when installed in a bathroom. This situation, caused by moisture, creates unsightly areas that can ruin the appearance of even the nicest bathrooms. SupplyHouse.com has a solution: DIY Baseboard Heater Covers. These covers not only resist rust, but also enhance the look of any bathroom.

The covers' galvanized and powder-coated finishing treatment makes them rust-proof. The manufacturer backs this guarantee with a lifetime rust warranty.

PEX-A, PEX-B, and PEX-C

There are three grades of PEX tubing: PEX-A, PEX-B, and PEX-C. All PEX tubing is made of cross-linked polyethylene. The grades refer to the various methods that manufacturers use when linking the polyethylene molecules.



PEX-A carries the highest grade. Cross-linking takes place while the polyethylene is melted, resulting in even cross-links throughout the tubing. This “Engel Method” makes PEX easier to work with and allows it to retain its shape better than PEX of the other grades. Only PEX-A tubing works with expansion-style fittings.



The Silane Method creates PEX-B tubing. In this method, cross-linking occurs in silicon and oxygen molecules, rather than carbon. PEX-C (the Irradiation Method) creates cross-links in the PEX similar to those found in PEX-A tubing, but not while the polyethylene is in its liquid form. Instead, beams of electrons cross-link the polyethylene after it has been shaped into tubing. This is the least common method of PEX manufacturing. See SupplyHouse.com for more information.

Sizing Plumbing Tees

Finding the right plumbing tee is an easy job for seasoned installers, but do-it-yourselfers may have second thoughts when looking for the one they need. Any tee (for copper, PEX, etc.) is sized by the nominal size of the piping. The nominal size of copper used for plumbing and heating is the pipe’s inside diameter.



A tee with only one listed size has the same dimensions at all three of its openings. For tees that have multiple-sized slots the two sides are listed first, followed by the opening between them. The larger of the two sides will always come first. See SupplyHouse.com for a complete selection of plumbing fittings.

PEX: Safe for Plumbing

PEX tubing for plumbing continues to become more popular. PEX is lightweight and flexible. Running the lines through tight spaces is easy, making PEX a great choice for retrofit applications.



PEX designed for plumbing (i.e. without an oxygen barrier) meets all necessary codes for potable water use. The materials in PEX tubing are chemically inert. They will not react with or contaminate water. Neither will fittings: all PEX fittings are mechanical, and do not use glues, chemicals, adhesives, or cements. Visit SupplyHouse.com for a full selection of PEX plumbing products.

Honeywell Products for Cleaner Air

Honeywell offers three styles of air filtration products: the media air cleaner, the electronic air cleaner, and the TrueCLEAN. SupplyHouse.com stocks all these systems, as well as replacement filters.



F100F and F200E Media Air Cleaners are Honeywell’s most basic models. They mount in the return air duct and require no electricity. Media filters strain larger particles, such as lint, before intercepting smaller particles that are jostled by random collisions with air molecules in the filters. The molecules cause diffusion in which the particles collide and stick to the filter, while filter-cleaned air circulates back into the home.



Honeywell’s Electronic Air Cleaners feature slightly more advanced technology. Their pre-filter screen traps large particles. Remaining particles are given a charge, rather than relying on natural charges (as Media filters do). Charged plates inside the unit attract the particles like magnets, before electrically-cleaned air passes through a post-filter and into the home.



TrueCLEAN, Honeywell’s newest and most advanced air filtration system, contains media filters with electronic enhancements - combining the best aspects of the older models. It captures dust and germs, and has been tested against flu and cold viruses. The system charges particles immediately (with an even charge). The interior media filter is continuously charged, which allows it to attract particles from all directions. This gives its MERV 15 filter the lifespan of a MERV 10 filter (i.e. fewer replacements). Finally, when powered, the TrueCLEAN destroys captured particles.

Get Help with your Radiant Design

Thinking about installing a radiant heat system? At SupplyHouse.com, you can find all the parts and tools needed to get warm floors. You also have the opportunity to request a full radiant heat design. SupplyHouse.com’s licensed designer can provide you with a full materials list, complete with a heat loss report and a radiant panel summary. A custom loop CAD drawing of the entire project is also available.



The new radiant heat quote form at SupplyHouse.com allows you to submit all the necessary information online. It includes sample documents that provide an example of what is included with each quote.

Tekmar Radiant Heat Thermostats

Tekmar offers high-quality thermostats for in-floor radiant heating. They can be used with the model 079 slab sensor for in-slab installations. The sensor's cord measures 10 feet in length. The Tekmar 518 thermostat is not programmable and does not come with the slab sensor. The 519 package includes the 518, plus the 079 slab sensor. Tekmar model 510 thermostats are programmable, and combine with the slab sensor to make up model 511 packages.

For radiant heating applications, since it can take some time for temperature levels to change within the room, programmable thermostats are not of the utmost importance. Due to the nature of radiant heating (i.e. heating surfaces rather than the air), a slab sensor gives the best indication of the comfort level those in the room actually experience. See SupplyHouse.com for more thermostats and radiant heating products.

Keep Drains Clear with Hercules

Hercules produces professional strength drain cleaning compounds. The odor-free, non-acidic Glug Crystal Drain Opener unclogs slow moving drains. It counters the effects of grease, hair, and soap scum in kitchens, bathrooms, grease traps, or other large drains.



Liquid Glug is available in formulas specifically designed for kitchens, bathrooms, and septic lines. Perfect for preventative maintenance or getting rid of clogs, these products will not harm plumbing fixtures or pipes. For more plumbing supplies, visit SupplyHouse.com.

PEX Crimp vs. PEX Clamp Fittings

PEX crimp and PEX clamp connections use the same fittings, but the rings and tools used to make these connections are different. It makes sense, then, that installers (especially those new to PEX) often wonder which method is better. Crimping and clamping are equally reliable. If the fitting is made properly, it will not leak. The choice between crimping and clamping should ultimately come down to a matter of preference and the tool that feels most comfortable.



That said, they are a few other factors to take into consideration. Clamp rings are stainless steel, making them more resistant to corrosion than copper crimp rings. This comes into play in direct burial applications, especially in areas with aggressive soil. Clamps also tend to be easier to remove, should the need arise. Crimp fittings, however, can be checked with a go-no-go gauge. The gauge allows the installer to see, immediately after making the fitting, whether or not he/she made the fitting properly. This can be crucial for do-it-yourselfers or those using the tool for the first time. For more information, visit the Resource Center at SupplyHouse.com.

Eliminate Drafts this Winter

During heating season, homes and buildings inevitably lose heat through ceilings, floors, windows, and doors. One major source of heat-loss is often overlooked: ducts. Unless a structure has a forced-air heating system, ducts used for central air conditioning are inactive during the winter. Ducts usually run through unheated attics. Since heat flows from hotter to colder areas, it travels through open vents and registers, into the ductwork, and out through the attic. This makes it more difficult to maintain set-point temperatures, and results in higher utility bills. Closed louvers do not create an air-tight seal, and heat will still infiltrate the vents.



Elima-Draft Vent/Register Covers solve this problem. The insulated plastic covers have a 6.0 R-value. They attach to aluminum vents and registers magnetically for easy placement and removal, year after year.

Quiet Ventilation Fans

The ventilation fans available on SupplyHouse.com, whether in-line or ceiling mounted, will not make much noise. New technology has allowed Panasonic, Broan-NuTone, and Fantech to offer fans that operate much more quietly than those from older installations. Many of Panasonic’s WhisperGreen, WhisperLite, and WhisperCeiling models are rated at less than 0.3 sones.



Sone ratings, much like decibel ratings, measure the loudness of a sound. They do so in relation to the hearing of an average person. One sone equals approximately 40 decibels, and an increase of one sone indicates that sound levels have doubled.

Hart & Cooley's “Golden Sand”

Are you looking for a grille, diffuser, or register in a unique color? Then you should check out Hart & Cooley’s “Golden Sand” products. The Golden Sand enamel finish gives vents a brown look that sets them apart from standard white models. Available primarily as floor registers, golden sand models complement dark-colored flooring or walls. Visit SupplyHouse.com for a wide range of Hart & Cooley products.

Heavy Duty Clamp Tool

PEX clamping uses the same fittings as PEX crimping, but different rings. The stainless steel clamp rings perform better outdoors and in direct burial applications than copper crimp rings do. The heavy duty clamp tool offered at SupplyHouse.com performs better for contractors and people who clamp frequently. The tool also cuts clamp rings off of PEX. Just push the silver pin down on both sides and insert the tool into the collar of the clamp ring.

BTUs and Kilowatt Hours

Depending on the utility rates in your area, an electric heat source may be the most cost-effective option to heat your home. With an electric heat source, the key number to keep in mind is that 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals 3,413 BTUs. Since electrical providers charge by the kWh, you can use your BTU load to calculate a rough estimate of your seasonal heating costs. SupplyHouse.com offers electric boilers and water heaters.

Mini-Split AC Mounting

Ductless Mini-Split air conditioning systems consist of an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor units. The outdoor unit can be secured to a concrete block or equipment pad on the ground, or mounted to the building with brackets. The unit should be placed in a well-ventilated area, away from exhaust coming from the building.

Wall-mounted indoor units function best when mounted high on the wall (at least 5 feet from the ground). This allows proper circulation of warm and cool air through the room. Installations closer to the floor also increase the likelihood of pet hair or other debris from the floor being sucked into the unit. See SupplyHouse.com for our new Mini-Split Sizing Calculator and mini-split products from Sanyo, LG, and Panasonic.

Indirect Water Heater Efficiency

Nowadays, seemingly all household products have some sort of efficiency rating associated with them. These ratings can allow products to achieve Energy Star status and help owners qualify for tax deductions and rebates from local utility companies. Plumbing and heating products, most notably boilers and water heaters, have efficiency ratings. It would make sense, then, that an indirect water heater (which is essentially a water heater tank attached to a boiler) would also have an efficiency rating. None of them do, however, because the boiler heats the water in the indirect tank. This means that an indirect water heater is only as efficient as the boiler connected to it.

Robertshaw I2 = More Options

Programmable thermostats allow users to stay comfortable with less effort and maximum efficiency. They save energy at night and during periods of the day when a building is not occupied, but ensure that desired temperature levels will be reached by the appointed time. Programmable thermostats generally have 4 daily programmable periods: wake up, leave for work, return home, and go to bed. These periods are completely modifiable, and can accommodate individuals who have unusual schedules. Most units allow different schedules for weekends.

The Robertshaw I2 Series of programmable thermostats gives the unique option of 6 programmable periods (also known as “events”) per day. Also configurable to 2 or the standard 4 periods, these thermostats make using a programmable thermostat even more flexible. In addition, these units feature a new Setup Wizard that makes installation a breeze. For more programmable thermostats and Robertshaw products, see SupplyHouse.com.

PEX Tubing and Gas Water Heaters

PEX tubing can be used with gas-powered water heaters, but it should not come within 18 inches of the flue. PEX can be damaged by the intense heat present near the gas flue. Hard, metallic pipe should be used for the first 18 inches. PEX water heater adapters, available for crimp/clamp or ProPEX connections, measure just over 18".

With electric water heaters, PEX can be attached directly to the unit. Keep in mind that local codes may have unique requirements that should always take precedence over the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations. For a full selection of water heaters from A.O. Smith and Bradford White, visit SupplyHouse.com.

Sizing a Mini-Split AC

Need a new air conditioner? Looking to install AC in your bedroom? Adding an extension that you want to air condition? Mini-Split air conditioners are becoming more and more popular in the United States. They are quiet, energy efficient, and look great in your home. Our new Mini-Split calculator can help you determine what size unit you need and it will recommend all the components you need for your system. Try it out and see what you need to install a mini-split in your home!
You can find the Mini-Split AC calculator and other tools in our Resource Center at www.supplyhouse.com.